Overview

I'm a writer and editor with experience working across non-fiction, drama and poetry. Books that I have edited have been short-listed for major international prizes, and my own work has appeared in magazines and anthologies in the UK and America. My first book was published by Pluto Press this year.

I am the managing editor of Gutter Magazine, Scotland's magazine of new writing, and am excited by making books that tell their story clearly and beautifully.

Scotland's poet laureate, Liz Lochhead said of me:'‘Henry Bell is that rare beast, a truly creative person who can facilitate creativity in others. He is a terrific editor and an intensely loyal person.’

Fiction

Certifications

Awards

Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award 2019

Work experience

Writer and Editor

Self-employed

May, 2013
–
Present
(almost 6 years)

I have edited anthologies of short stories, collections of poetry, non-fiction books, and educational texts for publishers including Freight Books and Harper Collins. Books that I have edited have been shortlisted for the Forward Prize, and I have worked with authors including former poet laureates and queen's gold medal winners.

As a dramaturg I have worked on projects with the Traverse, the National Theatre of Scotland and Playwrights Studio Scotland to help develop and realise original texts and adaptations that have been performed across Scotland and internationally.

My first book John Maclean (Pluto Press, 2018) was praised by Scotland's first minister, and by Jackie Kay who described it as 'brilliantly written and beautifully structured.' It was chosen by the Scottish Review of Books as one of the books of the year.

I am also the managing editor of Gutter Magazine, and have overall responsibility for the editing and production of this 192 page literary magazine twice a year.

'Listen, hit's semple: in Orkney I'm English; in England I'm Scottish; in Scotland, Orcadian -' This expansive collection by one of Scotland's outstanding performers is a moving exploration of identity, and how it is warped and changed by our languages, nationalities, and the often inhuman machinations of the State. Tonguit stands as a collage of the early 21st century; of growing intolerance,... read more

'Listen, hit's semple: in Orkney I'm English; in England I'm Scottish; in Scotland, Orcadian -' This expansive collection by one of Scotland's outstanding performers is a moving exploration of identity, and how it is warped and changed by our languages, nationalities, and the often inhuman machinations of the State. Tonguit stands as a collage of the early 21st century; of growing intolerance,... read more

This stunning new collection features never before published work along with poems written during her time as Scots Makar, and marks the end of her term as Scotland's Poet Laureate (2011-2016). Whether commissioned works, such as 'Connecting Cultures', written for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 or more personal works, 'Favourite Place', about holidays in the west coast with her late husband, t... read more

This stunning new collection features never before published work along with poems written during her time as Scots Makar, and marks the end of her term as Scotland's Poet Laureate (2011-2016). Whether commissioned works, such as 'Connecting Cultures', written for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 or more personal works, 'Favourite Place', about holidays in the west coast with her late husband, t... read more

Tip Tap Flat is an anthology of new creative writing and graphic art inspired by the City of Glasgow from staff and students; undergraduates and post-grads, administrators and technicians, professors, PhDs, researchers and others studying and working at Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow. The city you see depends on who you are, Tip Tap Flat gives you the power to view Glasgow... read more

Tip Tap Flat is an anthology of new creative writing and graphic art inspired by the City of Glasgow from staff and students; undergraduates and post-grads, administrators and technicians, professors, PhDs, researchers and others studying and working at Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow. The city you see depends on who you are, Tip Tap Flat gives you the power to view Glasgow... read more

Gutter magazine is the outstanding independent literary magazine publishing fiction and poetry from writers born and living in Scotland. The work you'll find here is in turns diverse, delicate and dangerous. But with contributions from every corner of Scotland, all the major countries of Europe, Canada, both coasts of the USA, the Antipodes and the Far East, it is, most of all, global in attit... read more

Gutter magazine is the outstanding independent literary magazine publishing fiction and poetry from writers born and living in Scotland. The work you'll find here is in turns diverse, delicate and dangerous. But with contributions from every corner of Scotland, all the major countries of Europe, Canada, both coasts of the USA, the Antipodes and the Far East, it is, most of all, global in attit... read more

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